This morning I visited Fraser Way in my own village of Welford on Avon. I bumped into one of the residents who highlighted a concern; the state of footpaths in the village.
With the recent storms we have endured, the ground in and around our villages is saturated. Many of our footpaths are quagmires and for many are impassible. Even my dog, Alfie, has been tiptoeing around the edges of the worst affected areas.
The good news in Welford is that the parish council have started a programme of re-surfacing the footpaths in the village. This has seen a dramatic improvement in our ability to access our footpaths, particularly at this time of year.
The resident I spoke to on Fraser Way highlighted another issue. He pointed out that some of his elderly neighbours had difficulty getting to the bus-stop. First, the volume of traffic on the High Street made it difficult for them to cross the road in safety. Second, the footpath at the side of the road was narrow and un-even.
I share his concern. It is paramount that our elderly residents feel safe getting about in our villages, otherwise they will become isolated and lonely. I will campaign to ensure that our footpaths are accessible to all; including those who are less sure-footed, or use mobility scooters or wheelchairs.
I want to see measures taken to reduce traffic volume and speed. This will require co-ordination between different levels of local government, from parish to county. I will be fighting to ensure that the right people make the right choices and take the right action to achieve this.